RENO, Nev.  Blame it on the day-long drizzle chilled by the Sierra Nevada wind that eventually dropped the mercury to 29 degrees.

Blame it on an ineffective offense that crumbled against a relentless pass rush, producing a season-worst 358 yards. Or Justin Ayat's two missed field goals, or a drive inside the 15 that netted zip.

Blame it on "all of the above" that left the University of Hawai'i football team feeling low in a party-pooping 24-14 loss to Nevada at Mackay Stadium.

"Anytime you do that on the road, you're going to get your (behind) whupped," UH cornerback Abraham Elimimian said.

The Warriors' sixth  and final  road game was to be a celebration. A Warrior victory would ensure a winning season and meet the requirement to receive an automatic berth in Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Day. As a bonus, it would set up a winner-take-all game against 24th-ranked Boise State (9-1 overall, 5-0 in Western Athletic Conference) Dec. 6 at Aloha Stadium.

"We were in the driver's seat," Elimimian said, "and now we're in the back seat."

The Warriors (6-4 and 5-2 in the WAC) have three remaining home games to earn their seventh victory, starting against winless Army.

The Warriors scored two touchdowns in a span of 11 seconds to take a 14-6 lead early in the third quarter. Chad Owens, aligned in the left slot, sped past linebacker Ekene Agwuenu on a streak pattern, pulled in a Tim Chang pass and outraced safety Nick Hawthorne to complete the 39-yard scoring play.

On the Wolf Pack's ensuing possession, Andy Heiser, after faking a handoff to Chance Kretschmer, fumbled with no defender within three yards. Defensive end Travis LaBoy picked up the ball and raced the remaining 16 yards for a touchdown.

"I saw the ball on the ground, I picked it up and starting thinking 'end zone,' " LaBoy recalled.

But the 14-6 advantage was created with smoke. The Warriors' best power runner, West Keli'ikipi, was on crutches, having suffered a possible torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at the end of a 24-yard, catch-run-pound play in the first quarter.